CHEM203: BIOCHEMISTRY - Laboratory

Experiment: Photosynthesis
OBJECTIVE: Tostudy photosynthesis

PROCEDURE:

1. Go to: https://www.labxchange.org/library/items/lb:LabXchange:71c3a3ab:lx_simulation:1

2. Run. You will be brought to this simulation area.

3. Notice that there are several variables that can be manipulated in the experiment such as light,
temperature, pH and many others. Data is collected in the production of several dependent variables
including ATP, NADH, Glucose, and Oxygen. The following questions will ask you to experiment with the
site and connect the patterns in the data to what you know about the energy transfer processes of
photosynthesis.

Part 1: Run the experiment with all values in their “starting” position. Notice that ATP and NADH concentration
increases and decreases at a regular rate over time. Explain the relationship between these regular increases
and decreases and the production of glucose. (document this)

Answer:
Part 2: Reset the values and toggle the variables in the following way

1) At the top toggle to spectrum light

2) Select the blue “Live” button on the bottom
3) Select the “glucose” tab on the lower graph

If you compare glucose production in this situation to the ideal settings from challenge # 1 you will see gluvose
is only produced at one time, at just after 30 minutes. This is because the photosystems involved in
photosynthesis respond to a wide range of light wavelengths, not just a single wavelength. However, enough
energy must be available at this wavelength to slowly produce glucose. Play around the variables (except
wavelength of light) and identify one way to change the environment that will produce glucose at a faster rate.
(document this)

A. Identify the variable you manipulated that increases the rate of glucose production.

Answer:

B. Explain why that variable increases the glucose rate of production.

Answer:

Conclusion:

DOCUMENTATION:
(screenshots)